10% of potential reductions
The things we buy, consume, and throw away generate a lot of greenhouse gas emissions during manufacturing, transport, distribution and disposal. The best way to reduce emissions is to purchase and consume less stuff in the first place, and then find someone who can reuse whatever you no longer need before considering recycling or disposal.
Due to the way we account for community emissions, our Climate Change Action Plan does not take credit for reducing upstream emissions. Instead, our GHG accounting is directly concerned with emissions that are created from the anaerobic decomposition of organic waste in the landfill. The decomposition process creates methane, which is 28 time more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Although landfills capture most of the methane, and some like Redwood Landfill use that methane to create biogas or electricity, about one-quarter of it escapes into the atmosphere.
The good news is that it is relatively easy to divert organic material from the landfill. Paper and cardboard can be recycled. Food scraps, some paper (like napkins and paper towels), and yard waste can be composted, either at home or at the landfill. Surplus food can be donated to non-profits that distribute it to the needy. About half of the organic material that is put into the landfill is “recoverable.” The measures below are geared to making that happen by 2030, starting with encouraging residents and businesses to divert, recycle and compost organic waste. To meet our diversion target, the City will consider adopting an ordinance that mandates recycling and, as a last resort, setting trash collection fees that enable the waste hauler to invest in machinery that can sort trash and recover all compostable and recyclable materials before they are sent to the landfill.
The City will take the following actions to reduce emissions from waste.
Table 9: WASTE REDUCTION measures to reduce community emissions
| ID | Measure | GHG Reduction by 2030 (MTCO2e) | Share of Reductions |
| WR-C1 | Commercial Organic Waste | 1,505 | 16% |
| WR-C2 | Residential Organic Waste | 795 | 8% |
| WR-C3 | C&D and Self-Haul Waste | 170 | 2% |
| WR-C4 | Mandatory Waste Diversion | 2,990 | 31% |
| WR-C5 | Waste Processing Infrastructure | 4,220 | 44% |
| WR-C6 | Extended Producer Responsibility | n/a | n/a |
| WR-C7 | Inorganic Waste | n/a | n/a |
| TOTAL | 9,680 | 100% | |
Work with Zero Waste Marin, Marin Sanitary Service, and non-profits such as Extra Food to divert commercial organic waste from the landfill through recycling, composting, and participation in waste-to-energy and food recovery programs.
- Conduct outreach and education to businesses subject to State organic waste recycling mandates (AB 1826) and encourage or enforce compliance with the law.
- Refer new and major remodel commercial and multi-family residential project proposals to the City's waste hauler for review and comment and require projects to provide adequate waste and recycling facilities and access as feasible.
- Encourage and facilitate commercial and multi-family property owners to require responsible use of on-site recycling facilities in lease and rental agreements and to train and regularly evaluate janitorial, landscape, and other property management services.
Work with Zero Waste Marin, Marin Sanitary Service, and other organizations to educate and motivate residents to utilize curbside collection services and home composting for food waste.
Require all loads of construction & demolition debris and self-haul waste to be processed for recovery of materials as feasible. Investigate creation of an ordinance requiring deconstruction of buildings proposed for demolition or remodeling when materials of significant historical, cultural, aesthetic, functional or reuse value can be salvaged.
Adopt an ordinance requiring mandatory subscription to and participation in waste diversion activities, including recycling and organics collection provided by Marin Sanitary Service. Consider including phased implementation of the ordinance, penalties, and practical enforcement mechanisms.
Review and revise the City’s franchise agreement with Marin Sanitary Service to ensure waste reduction and diversion targets are met. Conduct a feasibility study and consider investing in new solid waste processing infrastructure to remove recoverable materials (recycling and organics) from the waste stream and reduce contamination. Require regular residential and commercial waste audits and waste characterization studies to identify opportunities for increased diversion and to track progress in meeting targets.
Encourage the State to regulate the production and packaging of consumer goods and take-back programs. Encourage on-demand delivery services like Amazon and Blue Apron to reduce packaging waste and investigate requirements and incentives for same through ordinance or engagement campaigns.
Promote reuse, repair, and recycling of inorganic materials, and encourage reduced use of packaging and single use items through engagement campaigns. Investigate supporting a local building material reuse center.
Increase opportunities for recycling, reuse, and composting at City facilities.
Embark on an educational and social marketing-based campaign to increase recycling, composting, reuse, and waste reduction within municipal operations. Conduct periodic waste audits of City facilities to understand where opportunities for increased diversion lie and to track progress.